EPD Euroball

USE PHASE AND END OF LIFEAs far as the use phase is concerned, the following considerations may be mentioned:Aluminium is not particularly degradable while polyurethane foam is non-putrescible,resistant to mould and stable from a dimensional point of view;The closed cells structure reduces remarkably the penetration of water, that within thespace of a few years may, both in its liquid form and as steam, originate degradationprocesses by hydrolysis;Like all the foams having closed cells, also this one is subject to "ageing" effect, by whichterm we mean a decrease in its insulating properties due to the process which tends toequilibrate the gas contained in the cells with the gas in the atmosphere.As for its disposal, it is possible to re-utilise the elements obtained from the ducts for insulationpurposes in the building construction (floor or wall cavities). For other parts, as an alternative, it ispossible to grind and separate (and possibly retrieve) the metal from the foam. Starting from thefoam, once this has been separated from facings, a chemical process may be applied (glycolysis)which makes it possible to obtain a liquid reactive product to be mixed with a new polyol. Anotherhypothetical procedure is that of mixing the powder obtained by fine grinding of the foam with thepolyol mixture intended for use in the production of insulating panels, at a proportional percentageof up to 10% by weight. As an alternative, on account of the high calorific power of the foam inspite of the flame retardants contained in it, the combustion process of the mixture with otherwaste, performed in special incinerators at very high temperatures makes it possible to “valorise”(waste-to-energy incineration) the "feedstock" energy available in the material.Finally, sending the waste to the landfill after the grinding and compacting processes have beencompleted, should be seen as the last solution.Since the performance in terms of thermal insulation ensured by Piral HD Hydrotec 15HP21 panelsis strategic in evaluating the saving in energy related to the choice of preinsulated ducts, it wasdesired to go deeper into that aspect by examining the performances derived from the applicationof different types of technologies to a standard HVAC model.For the sake of concreteness, below is an example of calculation used for a theoretical evaluationof the energy consumption associated with a standard HVAC model. Below are the data related tothe project:HVAC system with a surface of 500 m 2 of ducts capable of supplying 8500 - 9000 m 3 /h oftreated air in a block of offices of about 600 – 650 m 2 ;Ductworks made of preinsulated panels Piral HD Hydrotec 15HP21, λ u 5 = 0.024 W/(m K)(evaluated at a mean temperature of 10 °C) installed on a double ceiling or, as usual, not inthe same room where the treated air is distributed;5 The value for thermal conductivity mentioned refers to a value of λu used in the project, i.e. a value declared by the manufacturerwhich may be used by the designer for calculation purposes. This figure is also attributable to the same property during a period oftime regarded as economically reasonable in normal conditions allowing for any possible ageing or statistical corrections.8 of 13